the Top 10 Mainstream Metal Albums of 2023

Mainstream Metal is defined here as the middle of the road that does not lean too far in the direction of other genres that have their own lists. Power Metal and Thrash are the two most common sub-genres and are considered just renaming this the top 10 Power Metal and Thrash albums, but who knows what the future will bring so left it as is. These are not the coolest albums, but the best, fuck what other blogs say, After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of the year. 2023. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list; and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 Mainstream Metal albums of 2023.

10-Overkill -"Scorched" 

. Bobby Ellsworth's voice is still intact at 63, so that is half the equation for success. He and D.D Verni are the remaining founder members of the band, but D.D. is writing the bulk of the songs, their sound is pretty much intact. The new-ish guitarists provide enough fretboard pyrotechnics to satisfy the average thrash fan.I am pleased with this album, and the risks they do take pay off though they mainly deliver what you want from them with well-aged grace,

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/overkill-scorched.html

9- Cirith Ungol  -"Dark Parade" 

 More of the band's lineup is intact than most bands whose careers reach back to the 70s. Greg Lindstrom and Robert Garven formed the band back in 1971. With vocalist Tim Baker joining them for their first album. Baker's snarl still works really well. Does he still have the Rob Halford-like wail that he carried for "Frost and Fire"? No, he is 66 years old. Rob Halford does not sound like Rob Halford did in 1981. I think the weathered pipes of Baker sound more metal now.  These guys have gotten a helluva a lot heavier if you compare this to their earlier work. More importantly to my ears, they also sound darker.  There is a less proto-doom sound and more of a crushing thrashed-out power metal feel. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/09/cirith-ungol-dark-parade.html

8-Prong -"State of Emergency" 

When I first heard "Beg to Differ" it was clear these guys were taking music in another direction as their staccato stomp was outside of where thrash was. Their new album does not take anything in a new direction, it does highlight what they did. The vocals find Tommy Victor's voice sounding as urgent as ever with little wear and tear over the years. it is way better than expected, they do not have to try very hard to blend into the current metal landscape

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/09/prong-state-of-emergency.html

6-Dead Never Sleep-"Origins of Evil"

There is something about this band's sound that hits a nostalgic place for the weird bridge certain bands made during the late 80s as music began to transition away from where metal was at the time. There was commonly more of a punk influence to these bands like Snake Nation, Angkor Wat, and Die Kreuzen . The odd blend of sonic colors they make use of compensates in a way that works for me. I look forward to what the future brings for these guys and hope it finds them moving in this darker direction the songs are pulled toward.  It's lots of fun and takes me back to a welcome place.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/08/dead-never-sleep-origins-of-evil.html

 5-Skamold -" Ýdalir " 

Even with the roar of their throaty vocals, these guys are more melodic than you might expect.  They bring in dynamic changes to offer everything you might want from the genre without devolving into drinking songs. I would say there is less theatrics than what Amon Amarth does. There is also a little less thrash to suggest they might be more influenced by both Manowar and Bathory depending on where you are at in the song what they do not do is wander off into folk atmosphere or throw themselves into black metal passages, instead sticking to a very deliberate manner of songwriting that still maintains a great deal of drive. This works for me as there are already many extremes in metal out today so to find a balance that lends itself to melody always works in my book.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/08/skalmold-ydalir.html

4-Heidevolk -"WederKeer" 

The Dutch metal band's 7th album finds some lineup changes in place, with Mat van Baest added as a lead guitarist and Awakening Sun Drummer Kevin van den Heiligenberg. Former Conorach vocalist Jacco de Wijs returns for his second album with the band. This makes the bass player the only original member. Their third album is my favorite, and it feels like this album is going to follow a similar path of applying traditional metal values and almost power metal-like hooks to the epic odes to Vikings. Being that they are south of the Baltic, I will not call them Viking metal as that is a term reserved for Scandinavian bands, no matter who liberal scholars might seek to revise history for their narrative. I appreciate where they are coming from and the Germanic myths seem to be sung with sincerity, so this is not total LARPing.They have taken what they do and perfected it while doing metal proud by sticking to the truest form.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/02/heidevolk-wederkeer.html

3-Kvelertak - "Endling" 

 Norway's most rocking punks are back. It's the same line-up that busted out "Splid'. At times things go off in a more jammy metallic direction, that spans sonically from an almost Blue Oyster Cult feel to very driven metal chugs. They do what they do without recycling ideas, and not selling out, and the band continues to evolve in all the best ways

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/08/kvelertak-endling.html

 

 

2-Metallica -"72 Seasons" 

As someone who bought "Master of Puppets" on cassette when it came out 38 years ago, you might think my expectations are high for their 11th album. This album grew on me despite some recycling and clock-punching, to keep it from being perfect, if you are a Metallica fan and wish the "Black Album' was more metal and free of power ballads then this album is for you. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/metallica-72-seasons.html

  1-Primordial - "How it Ends" 

It's been five years since the Irish pagan metallers released "Exile Amongst the Ruins". Their newest album finds them in the same saddle galloping toward an even grimmer horizon. In fact, the end of the world is the theme of their newest effort, which should be no surprise given the title. The album is in the mega epic vein you might associate with this band. With Nemtheanga's vocals soaring while still full of commanding grit. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/08/primordial-how-it-ends.html

Overkill : "Scorched"

Just reviewed the new Metallica, so legacy thrash bands it is. These guys should have no problem cranking out a heavier album than "72 Seasons". They have always been heavier than Metallica. Bobby Ellsworth's voice is still intact at 63, so that is half the equation for success . He and D.D Verni are the remaining founder members of the band, but D.D is writing the bulk of the songs, their sound is pretty much intact. The new-ish guitarists provide enough fret board pyrotechnics to satisfy the average thrash fan. The opening track delivers even if some of the grit from the earlier days has been smoothed out. The rumbling bass tone that has driven their songs is there.

Drummer Jason Bittner continues to get the job done. The second song I had to give another listen to before forming a formal opinion about. It just chugged by me. I think he vocals seal the deal on it. "the Surgeon" shows they still care about songs , as there is an almost bluesy feel to the mosh parts. It stays true to who they are as a band. "Twist of the Wick" might not b e the album's strongest song in terms of how tightly it is written or hooky the riffs are, but Bobby proves his voice can still get up there. The dramatic elements midway in the song , at least help switch things up a bit. Things slow down to a more deliberate crunch on "Wicked Place' and the chug owes a little more to Sabbath. "Won't  Be Comin Back" is the first song that strikes me as filler, it does have a more traditional metal and perhaps not as aggressive. 

The mood shifts going into "Fever" that allows Bobby to open up and sing more. This is highly effective and makes when they kick back into things feel even heavier with the dynamic shift. "Harder They Fall" just kind of rocks past your ears, nothing about it kicked my ears enough to demand my attention no matter how many times I went back to give it another listen. The vocals to "Know Her Name" connects with the riffs more, which is why that song works better.  The last song is an odd choice for a closer given the epic nature of songs they have used in the past. It just kind of is and feels more like filler with a rock tinge, Overall I am pleased with this album, and the risks they do take pays off though they mainly deliver what you want from them with well aged grace, I will give this one a 9, putting it on par with the new Metallica which was also better than expected,

Overkill : 'the Wings of War"

Having heard good things about this album I decided to check it out. I used to love these guys in the late 80s. The opener finds the bands returning where I left off with them in the early 90s before the coming of grunge threw thrash bands a curve ball along with them scrambling to make their own "Black Album". The second is faster faster and more hard core tinged. Bobby's voice which is one of their more distinct qualities is intact as has stood the test of of time well. In fact it might sound better , as he actually singing more while retaining his gritty higher delivery. Along with the bassist Bobby is the only other founding member. However Jason Bitner is playing drums for these guys now which works for me.

 Though I am not sure about the chorus to "Head of a Pin" though the verse riff is fine with me.  The chorus is also a little weird on "Batshitcrazy". Choruses used to be their strength thinking back to songs like "Hello From the Gutter".They bounce back with "Distortion" which plays to their strengths.  "Mother's Prayer" is ok, but they have already done better on this album. "Welcome To the Garden State" is a thrash punk anthem to their home. Fun, but not the best writing of their career. The darker more powerful " Where Few Dare to Walk" might be the album's best song. It kinda of swings like a Metallica song, but packs a punch in more of the right places.

"Out on the Road Kill" is so straight forward that is has more of a rock n roll feel. There is a solid groove to it and the drumming is really fantastic. They lock into some pretty solid classic Overkill sounding thrash for the last song. nothing as adventurous or ground breaking as the other songs but it works. I will give this album an 8. It might not be as good as there classic material which this album made me want to go and search for , but far far as post "Horrorscope" albums go it fits nicely.